Improved hakness-snap



@with faire getint fitte.

WILLIAM E. DAvISoNgOLIvER A. BATES, SAMUEL M. WILSON, AND ALVAy P.RUSSELL, 0E JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN.

Letters Patent No. 72,462, dated December 24, 1867.

IMPROVED HARNESS-SNAP.

Be it known that we, WILLIAM F. Davison, OLIVER A. BATES, SAMUEL M.WILSON, and ALvA' P. RUSSELL, of Janesville, in the county:v of Rock, inthe State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and improved Snap andCheck-Hook for Harnesses, and for lother purposes; and we do herebydeclare that the following is afull clear, and exact descriptionthereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters of reference marked thereon, the same letter of referencerepresenting the same part in each drawing.

The nature of our invention consists in applying, inside the hook of asnap, a ring, pivoted to one side or arm of the hook, while a springkeeps theopposite side of thc ring pressed against the opposite side ofthe hook, in a diagonal position across the space between the arms ofthe hook, whereby, when in use, itAcannot, by accident or rubbingr of ahorse, become unhooked; and, also, the circular form of the ring, by itsdiameter, furnishes a convenient means of pressing the ring inward forunhooking, especially in cold weather, when gloves and mittens are worn,or in the dark, when the sense of feeling must govern in attaching anddetaching the snap, and is applicable, not only for check-reinsandlincs, but also for while-trees, and for other purposes for whichsnaps nre used. A

Figure 1 is a side view of the hook and ring-snap,

Figure 2 is a view at right angles with iig. 1, and

Figure 3 is u. longitudinal section at right angles with fig. 1, andshows a-partpof the ring, hook, and ,sp1-ing.

a is the body of the hook, having the loop d at one end, to which therein', t1ace,'strap, &c., are attached,y while at the other end isattached the ring 6. Atf the end of the bar vcomposing tho'body'of thehook is forked or formed with a. mortise, to'receive the spring c andallow it to operate freely, while the fork is bent so as to forman eyeto receive the. ring b, as shown in ig. 3. e is the rivet that holds oneend of the spring c I'irmlyto the body ofthe hook, while its oppositeend is left free to rise and fall in the forli atf, before described.

-When the ring is pressed inward,as the hook is used in attaching anddetaching fromthe bit of the bridle, and when used for other purposes,the [gain or attened portion of the inside of the ring at t serves vthedouble purpose of keeping the ring from rotating or revolving in a.longitudinal direction, and, by the pressure of thev spring thereon,keeps the ring pressed against the opposite side of the hook from thatpart to which it is fastened, as shown in iig. 1. `New, 4it is obvious,that as the ring b is pressed within the hook, in the direction of thedotted lines b', the right-hand corner of the flattened part of theinside of the ring, as at 7L in g. 3will raise the spring e, and, tbemoment the pressure on\ the spring is removed, the spring forces thering toits original position. This inward inclination of the ring isaccomplished by the act of hooking upona bridlel bit, or other article,when used, while, to unhook it, the pressure of the ring in an inwarddirection becomes necessary. Y

We do not confine ourselves to the precise mode described and shown forthe construction of our ring-snap hook; but the'ring, its attenedportion, or its equivalent shape, to operate against av spring, and theforked Vend of the hook, in some manner substantially' as described, wedeem essential'in its construction; also its application and use is asbroad as the purposes for which its `snap-hooks are used.

Among the advantages of our ring-snap hook, we may enumerate that ofreliability, the ringbeing as strong, substantially, as any part ofthehhook. It is not easily broken by the rubbing caused the restlessnessot horses, sudden concussion, or other accident. 'lhe location of thespring that operates the ring, being in a safe place, is less liable todamage, by breaking or otherwise, than when located in a more exposedposition, or when it receives the pressure direct, as from a bridle-bitring, instead of our intermediate ring b;

and also the ring may be readily used in the dark, and in cold weatherwithout removing mittens or gloves.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is- 1. Ring b, when constructed with a. gain or attened portion' toreceive and to be operated by spring e, substantially as and for thepurposes described. v

2. Hook a, ringb, and spring c, when all are constructed, connectedtogether, and used substantially as and for the purposes described.

WILLIAM F. DAVISON, OLIVER A. BATES, l

SAMUEL M. WILSON,

Witnesses: ALVA'P. RUSSELL.

C. I. BALen, J. M. MAY.

